Plumber in Cottonwood Heights, Utah

Several possibilities we see often. First, a failing PRV leaks pressure through even when no fixtures are on, and your utility reads extra flow. Second, a silent running toilet — the flapper doesn't quite seal and water trickles for hours a day. Third, an unnoticed slab or underground leak. We run a meter test: if all fixtures are off and the meter needle still moves, you have a leak somewhere. Then we track it down. Most Cottonwood Heights bill jumps trace back to one of those three.

Because you are near the canyons, treat winter plumbing more seriously than a valley-floor home. Disconnect garden hoses before the first freeze. Insulate exposed plumbing in garages, crawl spaces, and attics — include both supply and drain. On nights forecast below 10 degrees, let a trickle of cold water run from the furthest faucet and open cabinet doors on exterior walls. If you travel in winter, leave the thermostat at 58 degrees minimum and consider a smart leak detector that shuts off water automatically if a pipe bursts.

Install a proper PRV at the main supply after the shutoff. We typically set it to 65 to 70 PSI, which is the sweet spot for fixture life and shower performance. A new PRV is a few hundred dollars installed, pays for itself quickly in avoided washer-hose bursts and toilet fill valve replacements, and you usually see a noticeable drop in water bills because the lower pressure reduces flow on every fixture slightly. While we're there we check your expansion tank — high pressure often means that has already failed too.